DHAKA: Two courts of Dhaka and Kurigram on Thursday summoned Bangla daily ‘Prothom Alo’ editor Matiur Rahman.

He is asked to appear before the courts on the same day on November 9 in two different cases filed against him on Thursday on allegations of hurting religious sentiments and provoking people in attacking minor communities of the country.

Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court summoned Matiur Rahman to report at the court in person on November 9 after Advocate Giasuddin filed the case on charge of hurting the religious sentiments of the majority and provoking others to attack the minorities in the country.

On the other hand, Bangabandhu Prajanma League district unit general secretary Advocate Sakhawat Hossain filed a case with Kurigram Chief Judicial Magistrate Court against Matiur Rahman and Prothom Alo’s photo journalist Majid Khan.

Advocate Sakhawat Hossain filed the case on charge of insulting Islam, provoking people in attacking minorities and publishing derogatory news items on January 5 general elections.

Magistrate Rezaul Karim Sarker ordered Matiur Rahman to appear before the court on the same date, on November 9.

Plaintiff of the case Advocate Sakhawat Hossain said Prothom Alo published an insulting cartoon about Hazrat Mohammad (SM) on its supplement in 2007 and again published an item contorting the “Ayat 27” of Sura Lokman on ‘Ros+Alo’, another supplement of the paper on March 11 in 2013.

Prothom Alo also published another concocted news item about the January 5 general elections on January 6 in 2014, he added.

In reply to a question of banglanews, Advocate Sakhawat Hossain said I came to know about these old matters from various sources but there were no evidences to me.

Now I have collected the evidences and this is why, I have filed the case, he added.

BDST: 2139 HRS, OCT 02, 2014